pollyy Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Hello! My husband and I have been thinking about getting an Eglu with chickens for a while. I have a few questions though and I would really appreciate any advice you may have! Our garden is very small and mainly laid to lawn. The beauty of it though is that it's completely fenced in so the chickens could have the run of the garden on occasion. But, will my lawn be ruined by the chickens or is the trick to keep moving the Eglu? If I do give the chickens the run of the garden from time to time, will they eat my flowers? Everything I grow is in pots and so it's mainly herbs, pansies, sweet peas etc. I don't have any veggies. What do you do with your chickens in the dead of winter? I mean, snow like we had not so long ago? Are they still OK in their Eglu? And any experience of a two and a half year old toddler and chickens?! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Hi and welcome! The chickens can easily damage your grass and plants - they don't understand to leave it alone! Some people will say they have immaculate gardens and they have (many post pics to make the rest of us jealous ) but many more look a bit lived in! If I were you I would keep them in the run or section off some of the garden for them. Also chickens do poo a lot and your toddler would be having some choice tit-bits off the grass if you let the chickens totally free range! Many people have aviary style runs for their chicken to give them some room and keep them safe while saving the garden To balance the bad news out chickens do make amazingly fun pets and are evry interactive and make good pets for children, I don't regret getting mine for a moment Putting the Eglu and run on a base of woodchips/Aubiose means you don't have to move it - a cover helps keep things dry Chickens are fine in cold weather Read some more of the forum for more info and please don't be put off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 My children are all grown up now, but I wish I'd know about chickens when they were small. We had rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, etc ( as well as a dog and cats) but chickens are so intelligent and responsive - and lay eggs! They are very easy to look after, especially if you get an Eglu or cube. I'm finding out what plants they don't like - and the list is quite long. Grass is a problem but as the others say, you can fence them off. Why not visit someone with chickens and children and see it all in real life/ Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Your toddler will love having chickens! so will you - they are funny, productive, cheap and easy to keep. The grass won't last long if you move the eglu around - a lot of folk, me included, have put them on a permanent spot - mine is my old veg patch covered in wood chippings - with a netted off area for them to run in if you have space. That way the garden stays green and poo-free. That said, they will be happy in their run as long as it is big enough and if you don't have the space/ desire to let them free-range. have a look at the products bit as you can get run extensions to add space if you want more than 2 chickens. have a look at the eglus for sale bit too, as people do sell extensions etc second-hand. Have fun choosing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I agree, go and see someone with chooks, there's a whole section about on here, or go to a 'hen party' they are great? What part of the country are you in? There was also a thread on here over the winter and snow about the inside temperature of the eglu. Someone measured it and I think it was a good 4degrees warmer on the inside! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
